D-Ware Taking Notes From Haley

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Charles Haley was a lot of things. Large. Intimidating. Crazy as a loon.

But he was also a hellbeast of a pass-rusher, one that was in the center of all those early-nineties barn-burners between the Cowboys and the 49ers, first as a member of the 'Niners, and, after behavioral troubles got him tossed out of the Bay Area, the Cowboys. And God bless those behavioral troubles.

After winning two Super Bowls with San Francisco, Haley was traded to Dallas in 1992, leading Dallas' pass rush and helping the team to three Super Bowls over the next four years, all the while scaring the living bejeezes out of every quarterback he came across.

After last week saw DeMarcus Ware record his first two sacks, though, Haley might add another title: mentor.

"We talked about some of the things I should be doing that I wasn't doing," Ware said in the DMN. "You look at the tape and it was true. Sometimes, I needed to be a little more aggressive."

Ware, traditionally a speed-rusher, opted for an inside move to record both of his sacks on Sunday, a maneuver that relies more on power than on speed.

"You've got to change it up a little bit because a lot of teams are quick passing teams," Ware continued. "They do a lot of three-step and you've got to get to the quarterback a little faster and going inside is probably the fastest way to get there."

The pair met at Valley Ranch, when Haley was at the team's practice facility for an unrelated matter. They began to talk, and an impromptu technique-drill broke out. According to Ware, Haley is a deft sensei on the level of Pai Mei in Kill Bill 2... Only, probably crazier, and without a long, white goatee.

"You've got some person you can talk to who is one of the best to play the position. Being able to get a one-on-one pass rushing class is good," said Ware. "He still has something. He chopped my arm once and I was like, 'Man, you still got it, don't you? Don't take it out on me.' "